The 2025 Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference plays up Hong Kong’s position as a key logistics hub in the region.
Written by Henrik Batallones
Every year the Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference provides us with a window of what is being done across Asia to boost logistics competitiveness amidst ongoing global challenges. The most recent edition, held last November 17-18 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, focused in part on these initiatives being done in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and China as a whole: forging stronger connections with other countries while investing in competencies and capabilities internally.
Co-organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong SAR government, the conference included special sessions on strengthening business ties with countries in central Asia and the Middle East, as well as the development of a new Port Community System and the launching of a roadmap to support the emerging low-altitude economy, or the use of drones to deliver products to customers.
In his address, John Lee, the chief executive of Hong Kong, cited his government’s newly-established Partner Port relationships with Guangxi and Dalian in the Chinese mainland, as well as with San Antonio in Chile. Apart from the strategic importance of the ports, he cites the need to pursue market diversification to mitigate geopolitical risks, as well as highlighted Hong Kong’s role as a center for maritime trade.
The conference also highlighted the recently established Port Community System, a digital platform allowing for greater visibility through sharing of intermodal and cross-enterprise data on the status of cargo shipments. A session on the emergence of cargo drones and new approaches to delivering shipments was coupled by the first Belt and Road Low Altitude Economy Cooperation Conference, which discussed Hong Kong’s role in the mainland’s plans to further the low-altitude economy through aligned policies and regulations, as well as technology-sharing.
On the other hand, the conference’s keynote session focused on how companies can steer growth amidst geopolitical challenges. One theme that emerged was the tandem role played by both people and technology.
“We need to be escalating the right people … to find the right solutions,” Henri Le Gouis, executive vice president for global freight forwarding of Geodis, said. “We need people who are able to … make the right decisions and find the right solutions even if the events are unexpected.”
“In order to help any organization navigate through disruption, the focus must be on a resilient supply chain and diversification,” Brian Bourke, global chief commercial officer of Seko Logistics, said. “But I do have to say that it’s the partnerships you forge that are going to help when the unknowns happen.”
Other topics discussed during the conference were on green energy, emerging logistics technologies and artificial intelligence, and trade facilitation.
Over 2,300 participants from across the region took part in the conference, alongside over 90 exhibitors, once again including the Philippines’ own F2 Logistics. The event also featured business matching sessions and site visits to key logistics facilities in Hong Kong, such as the Cainiao Smart Gateway and Hong Kong International Terminals.
SCMAP and Supply Chain Philippines magazine once again supported this year’s conference.